Less than a fortnight ago he played his final Super 14 match against the Bulls at Loftus the stadium where it all started for 37-year-old Springbok lock Johan Ackermann and on Monday night he was in Green Point, training with Hamiltons ahead of their derby against Villagers at Brookside on Saturday.
Dale Granger reports on IOL.
What a career for the veteran lock, as he prepares to run out with former provincial stars Jaco Gouws, Egon Seconds and Rayno van As in a Hammies side favoured to dominate their Cape club rivals.
As part of an arrangement with the Sharks, Ackermann (13 Test caps) played the first four games of this year’s Super 14 before relocating to Cape Town for a career with petroleum company Kepu, the sponsors of Hamiltons.
After a long career, Ackermann reflected last on Monday night on what it would be like returning to club rugby, where it all started for him in the Police club in Pretoria.
“It’s a good thing I played club rugby before and I remember it as if it was yesterday. Rugby is a game you have to respect and whoever I am up against, be it a club player or an All Black, I will play with passion and they have my respect.
“My focus will be on my team and the game, not the reality that there are not 40 000 people in the stands,” he said.
After a career that took him from the Boks and the Bulls to the Lions, Northampton in England, Calivisano in Italy, then back to South Africa with Griquas and the Sharks where his performance, at age 35, saw him back in the Bok fold there are few veterans in South Africa as qualified as Ackermann to explain why the Sharks are second on the Super 14 log, while every other South African team is struggling.
“The Sharks set-up is amazing and so is the spirit. There are no egos and everyone plays for one another. And Dick Muir is a remarkable coach who knows the mix that you must have between enjoyment and discipline, especially on tour.
“He keeps authority as a coach, but still manages to have a friendly relationship with senior players like AJ Venter and John Smit. He can have a beer with those guys, but they still respect him and will listen to him as players.
“Dick took over in 2005 when we were bottom of the log and just over two years later he took us to the Super 14 final. He created the environment to perform and scouted players like Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen and Bismarck du Plessis.
“The whole mix is excellent, with a management who plan well, players who play for one another, and an excellent vibe in the stadium.
Apart from the All Blacks, the Sharks are the only side I know of who allow music in the dressing room and play ipods to relax.
“I think the Stormers, if they do not build momentum now after the Reds, will be a force next season,” Ackermann said of the Cape side, striving to record their second win, against the Chiefs on Friday.
“You could feel that they were much better when we played them this year (the Sharks won 12-10 in Durban) than last season and I can see them getting better every year. Rassie (Erasmus) is a very good, structured coach but it’s going to take time and patience for the team to get used to his system. Then results will come.
“Their past problem seemed to be two camps in a team that was split. That can sometimes be the case when you have seven or eight big names in a side.
At Griquas I played under (former Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe) and the only two senior players were myself and Braam (van Straaten). But we both supported the coach,” he said.
Indeed. Last season there was conflict in the Stormers camp culminating in a dressing room row between Luke Watson and Van der Merwe.
Now Jean de Villiers is the new Stormers captain and, if anything, none are breaking ranks with team protocol.
There is no indication that the Stormers might rely on Ackermann’s services. But, work permitting, the big guy hopes to coach kids.
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legend! i like guys like this, like jerry collins who loves the game and will run out for the all blacks or a club side with equal enthusiasm.
“As part of an arrangement with the Sharks, Ackermann (13 Test caps) played the first four games of this year’s Super 14 before relocating to Cape Town”
Grave Danger – it’s actually three games…
Tch! Whatever became of accurate reporting?
How’s this for scintillating reading? “The win over the Lions placed the Bulls on the eighth position on the log and this is what some of the coaches thought were on the encounter.”
Courtesy of our friends at bullsrugby.
Hellow Rob!
guess they used an online translator to come up with that gem.
Mornin’ HB. How goes?
I have no friends at bullsrugby. Only enemies I haven’t met yet 😉
Hahaha, excellent! For a brainfreeze dumbing-down excercise, read the Bulls website. To put you in an intellectual coma, read the blog!
Rob, goes well. And your side?
lmao HB, strange thing is my pc wont let me enter that url or click on any link leading there.
PJLD – I think your computer is trying to protect you.
HB – it goes ok. Getting tired of Pooland and want to go home now
PJLD, have to agree with Rob, you don’t want to go there.
When I feel masochistic urges but don’t want the blood, I go there.
Rob, what’s wrong with Pooland?
Good morning gents and Robd.
it’s full of people I don’t know 😉
Morê Weasel. Killed any good pies this morning?
Nope, don’t do pies dude!!!
It’s my b/day today btw…
Got an annual subscription to SA Rugby from the missus. Duidelik!!! 😎
happy birthday, chap! Hope you have an OUTSTANDING day!
Thanks Rob.
Happy Birthday Wes
Have a good one boykie
Hullbent and RobDylan ewe shuld show sum bleddy respect for the sooper viertien world champions, or Ill moer you both back into lust jaar!!!
PO#S! 😆
Oh dear… looks like the idiot-filter has failed again 😉
Bulle-almal-bokke… you a Dick Muir fan? 😉
Thanx Claytie.
Wtf?
Bulle_almal_Bokke has to be either KSA or Vinnie. 😯
morning gentlemen,
nope B_A_B is not KSA, he is on the road to Riyadh today 🙁
Happy Happy WPW, only the best people are born in March 😉
Rob that is Naas die Baas nut Dick! 😉
damn spammed again 👿
on da urra han…
Wouldn’t be a bad game to go watch this weekend.